Occupy DC protesters are becoming increasingly distrustful of labor unions and advocacy groups like MoveOn.org, who, they say, are trying to co-opt their movement to push political agendas of their own.
Labor unions, in particular, have been supportive of the Occupy movement nationwide. In the District, where there are two Occupy protest camps, unions have provided supplies and allowed protesters to use their facilities, including showers, since they arrived two months ago. But tensions have started to mount.
To emphasize its political independence, Occupy DC on Thursday marched on a Democratic fundraising dinner hosted by party leaders like Nancy Pelosi at which participants were paying $5,000 to $75,000 for a seat, and later blocked the entrance of the W Hotel where another Democratic fundraiser was being held. That followed a similar protest at a GOP event last month.
The crowd of about 60 protesters shouted slogans and waved signs, but did nothing to provoke the 25 police officers keeping order. Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee said he agrees with many of the goals of the Occupiers but said, “the system has outlets that are effective.”
The unions are planning a five-day “Take Back the Capitol” protest on Capitol Hill next week that will bear a striking resemblance to the Occupy movement, from claims of representing the “99 percent” to the tent city the unions plan to erect. But Occupy protesters say they won’t back the union protest because labor and other groups like MoveOn support Democrats and Occupy doesn’t support either major political party.
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“MoveOn’s been working very hard,” said Liam Fox, a protester from New Mexico who’s been at Occupy DC in McPherson Square since early October. “They’d love to turn [the Occupy movement] into a pet until the election and then have it neutered. They don’t have the momentum or public support we have.”
“They’re undermining the whole point. We want to take power and give it to the people, not unions,” said McPherson protester Benjamin Faure. “If a union can win over everyone at the square, go ahead and let them try.”
Union officials deny they’re trying to hijack the Occupy movement.
“We have no expectation or desire to co-opt the movement,” AFL-CIO spokesman Jeff Hauser said. “They’re independent of us.”
Officials from MoveOn.org and Service Employees International Union did not return calls seeking comment.
Occupy protesters who are also union members say they keep their union and Occupy work separate. But union members do occasionally bring forth specific union issues at General Assembly meetings to garner support from Occupiers.
Occupiers acknowledge that the movement and unions share many goals. But they worry that giving any outside group an expanded role at the McPherson Square or Freedom Palace camps risks the appearance that the Occupy movement is aligned with the very political powers they are fighting.
“The Tea Party is exactly what we want to avoid,” said Kevin Zeese, an organizer at Freedom Plaza. “We’re not going to be led into the Democratic Party.”
